ART

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Art Lesson

One focus artist is Indigenous in order for both the indigenous and the non-Indigneous students, to build knowledge on and learn the Indigenous art culture.

Focus artist-

Minnie Pwerle- Body Paint and Bush Melon Seed

Discuss/research Minnie's background:

1910-2006

Born in the Utopia region

300km north east of Alice Springs, Northern Territory

One of the traditional owners of Utopia station

Her country was Atnwengerrp and her language was Anmatyerre

From a large family and there are many recognized Indigenous artist's in the family

Painting:

Minnie began painting at the age of 80

Her style of painting was known as 'bold' and 'vibrant'

Her paintings portrayed freedom and happiness

Many of her paintings depicted stories of dream time

two types of paintings

free flowing and parallel lines

circular shapes to depict bush fruit or objects

Painting style:

- Minnie has taken the usual traditional Aboriginal body paint style out on a canvas instead. Minnie wanted to try out the Western style of art.

- Minnie is expressing her symbols of her ancient traditional art such as the body decorations from chest, arms and legs

and has then modified her smybols to fit in with the modern times.

- Bringing the 3Dimensional real world onto the 2D surface

This artwork is representing:

- This is a new style of art for Aboriginals having the artwork represented on a 2D form instead of a human begin.

- Also not sticking to the usual desert colors that the Aboriginals usually embrace. Instead this artwork is based on vibrant colours, which her intention was to make the viewers see it as a happy work.

- This art work if you look closely is representing a full on scene, that glows and shows nothing but colour. It is expressing movement, dancing, a crowded area with no space.

TASK:

Now its over to you!

Every artwork has a story behind it, Research Minnie and her story and build upon your knowledge of what the artwork means to her and its sacred meaning.

Using the same colour tones and vibrant colours as Minnie, create your own cultural paintings reflecting their land, family and community.